Mr. Faraday o?i a peculiar Voltaic Condition of Iron. 57 



try these magnetic metals, which I strongly suspect to act in 

 the same manner as iron does. 



It appears from what I have just stated that the anomalous 

 bearing of the iron has nothing to do with its degree of affi- 

 nity for oxygen, but must be founded upon something else. 

 Your sagacity, which has already penetrated into so manv 

 mysteries of nature, will easily put away the veil which as yet 

 covers the phaenomenon stated in my letter, in case you 

 should think it worth while to make it the object of your re- 

 searches. 



Before I finish I must beg of you the favour of overlooking 

 with indulgence the many faults I have, no doubt, committed 

 in my letter. Formerly I was tolerably well acquainted with 

 your native tongue ; but now, having been out of practice in 

 writing or speaking it, it is rather hard work to me to express 

 myself in English. 



It is hardly necessary to say that you may privately or 

 publicly make any use of the contents of this letter. 



I am, Sir, your most obedient Servant, 



C. T. SCHOENBEIN, 

 Bile, ^lay 17, 1836. Prof, of Cliem. in the University of Bale. 



Dear Phillips, 



The preceding letter from Professor Schoenbein, which I 

 received a week or two ago, contains facts of such interest in 

 relation to the first principles of chemical electricity, that I 

 think you will be glad to publish it in your Philosophical Ma- 

 gazine. I send it to you unaltered, except in a word or two 

 here and there ; but am encouraged by what I consider the 

 Professor's permission (or rather the request with which he 

 has honoured me,) to add a few results in confirmation of the 

 effects described, and illustrative of some conclusions that 

 may be drawn from the facts. 



The influence of the oxidized iron wire, the transference of 

 the inactive state from wire to wire, and the destruction of that 

 state, are the facts I have principally verified ; but they are so 

 ■well described by Professor Schoenbein that I will not add 

 a word to what he has said on these points, but go at once to 

 other results. 



Iron wire, as M. Schoenbein has stated, when put alorie in- 

 to strong nitric acid, either wholly or partly immersed, ac- 

 quires the peculiar inactive state. This 1 find takes place best 

 in a long narrow close vessel, such as a tube, rather than in 

 a flat broad open one like a dish. When thus rendered qui- 



